Some reading this may remember a time when smartphones were a rarity, only accessible with several months of savings, and barely capable of capturing pixelated imagery in the smallest of frames. Fortunately, things have progressed to a point where this past decade may eventually be regarded as the golden age of mobile technology, where even the most feature-packed offerings are accessible to any stratum of society. Whether you are looking to replace the smartphone you have right now, or you are one of the few hopping onto the bandwagon for the first time, this list (2016-2017) will have you informed on the upcoming smartphones providing the most optimal balance of features and affordability in units retailing for under RM2,000.

Image Credit: Apple
While Apple may be a brand more suited to the affluent, with the expected retail price of their latest iteration causing a stir among economists and consumers alike, the iPhone SE provides one with the quality assurance, visibility, and the free FaceTime video calls that come with an Apple device – made available at a relatively accessible price. Released with the familiar options of finish in silver, gold, grey, or rose gold, recent updates to the insides of the iPhone SE bring it up to par with competing devices: with Apple’s design of processor (the A9); a 32GB capacity for data; a fingerprint scanner; and the new iOS 11 operating system adding incentive for joining the Apple camp.
Recommended Retail Price: RM 1,749

Image Credit: HTC
Google’s preferred partner for their foray into the smarthpone realm, Taiwan’s HTC brings us the Desire 10 Pro – a viable nomination for the year’s top contender with 4GB of working memory, 64GB of internal storage, and fingerprint scanner. The Desire 10 Pro is equippped with the octa-core MediaTek MT6755 Helio P10 processor, a 5.5-inch screen, and a 20 megapixel primary camera.
Recommended Retail Price: RM 1,899

Image Credit: Lenovo
One of the newer electronics brands to enter the landscape of smartphones, Lenovo is especially adept at extracting the most promising features from competing devices and integrating them into an affordable package. Equipped with the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 808 hexa-core processor and LTE network connectivity, the Vibe X3 also features immersive audio with dual front-facing Dolby Atmos® enabled speakers, an array of three microphones that intelligently filters out background noise, a fingerprint scanner, and a primary camera rated at 21 megapixels.
Recommended Retail Price: RM 1,299

Image Credit: Samsung
Among all other brands of mobile devices, and with the exception of their primary competitor, the size and presence of South Korea’s most successful family-run conglomerate results in a brand with the largest research and development budget – leading to the highly-anticipated A8, which provides the widest stretch in improvements over its predecessor, the Galaxy A5. While its 4GB of working memory, options for 32GB or 64GB of data storage, and imaging sensors are just about par (the primary camera is rated at 16 megapixels, the selfie dual-sensors at 16 and 8 megapixels) – the A8 boasts the latest in Samsung’s proprietary processor and screen technology: with the powerful Exynos 7885 Octa-core processor, and an expansive 5.6-inch screen with Samsung’s own Super AMOLED touchscreen technology.
Recommended Retail Price: RM 1,799

Image Credit: Sony
Using all that was learned from putting out some of our favourite gaming consoles and imaging equipment, Sony provides the newest addition to the Xperia series – the XA2 Ultra. Retailing just under the upper limit of our price criteria, the XA2 Ultra is a serious contender for top device with its 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage, and fingerprint scanner – while offering the epitome of currently available imaging technology with a 23 megapixel primary camera and a 6-inch touchscreen.
Recommended Retail Price: RM 1,999
*Brands are listed alphabetically
Article by Kevin Eichenberger